northpoint notes

I recently challenged my daughter and my daughter-in-law to run a 1/2 marathon with me this fall. Both of them are non-runners as far as I know (as of yesterday). Both have been talking about the challenge for several weeks. One has gone so far as to buy new running shoes and the other has consulted a running coach for a good plan for a beginning runner.

Since both periodically read this blog, my intentions in posting this is not to add pressure for them to complete the challenge but to reflect a bit on the journey.

Both have expressed doubts about their ability to complete 13.1 miles. There has been a suggestion about walking a portion of the race. There have been discussions about the benefits of the training even if they never run the race.

Their fears remind me of my first attempts to run – I went 7/10 of a mile and thought I would die. When I was finally able to run 2 miles, I knew that 3.1 (5K) was way out there. Then I ran my first race – a 10K (6.2 miles). I had never run more than 4 miles at  time. I wondered what might happen to me in those last two miles – surprisingly, nothing.

Once I had gone that distance, then speed became an issue. I wanted to run faster – not just faster but faster than the person in front of me. I am a little competitive. I am not fast but I do begin to pick up the pace when I see a runner in front of me or hear one behind me.

Both my daughter and daughter-in-law are also slightly (ahem) competitive. Most likely each is considering the challenge because of the other. I have not doubt they can go the distance. My biggest concern at this point is: will I be able to keep up.

When I was in seminary I tried to sit as close to the front of the class as possible. I found it was easier to stay engaged with what the prof was saying and I was less likely to doze. I must admit there was at least one class that was difficult to stay engaged no matter where you sat. Some of my fellow seminarians planned to nap during that class.

Kim and I had the privilege of seeing Les Miserables on Broadway a few years ago and I wanted tickets as close to the front as possible without having to strain my neck to look up at the stage.

Sunday, as the church filled, “our seats” were taken and we found ourselves sitting on the front row. I thought it was great.

Then as I stood to welcome people to this Easter Worship, I noticed that the front row was full. The section right in front of stage was full of young adults – college students. They were home for their spring break. When they were in high school, this group always sat on the front row. They seemed eager to learn – to grow – to grasp the truths I was trying to communicate. It was great to have them back on the front row and to see they are still eager learn and grow.

It is actually quite humbling to have young people sit on the front row to listen to what I have to say. It is a reminder of the incredible responsibility to speak the truth of God’s word in ways that will connect with their hearts. I love these front row people.

I talked with my nine-year-old granddaughter by phone this morning. She sounds so adult – grown up. She was describing in rather vivid detail an idea she has for a two-story play-house – one that resembled a log cabin. It would be large enough for her and her two best friends. It would be equip with a pet door so their dog could go in and out.

She had ideas on how to test the second-story floor to be certain it would be strong enough for at least three. She thought they could build it in her friends woods – (there is a stream nearby where they could get water if needed). There would be no electricity or running water in the play house. She wanted to experience life as it might have been before people had those conveniences.

She was wanting to combine resources to pay for the materials. She thought it would probably cost $1,000.00 and that it might take 2 years for the three of them to save that much money.

Then the question came: “I was wondering if you have experience building that kind of play house.” She doesn’t want a novice to build this thing. She wants someone with experience. Not wanting to disappoint her, I quickly changed the subject – asking further details about location.

Whenever we have something important to do, we want someone with experience. The problem is that we are all novices at some time – we are all unlearned in some area. The only way to gain experience is by trying – this usually means failing as well because (after all) we are novices. After a few failures, we are experienced.

We want the best carpenter, the best teacher, the best doctor. They have all become the best through making mistakes – through experience.

Jesus invited novices to follow Him. They had no ministry experience. They had never taught or performed miracles. He invited them to spend time watching Him. Then He sent them out. They made mistakes. There were demons they could not get rid of. But by the end of Jesus’ life, He trusted the ministry to these followers. They felt like novices, I’m certain, but they were now experienced.

There is a model here that we have all heard but it is a good reminder for those interested in making disciples – I do, you watch; you do, I watch; you do. The next step is – you do, someone else watch, etc.

Oh, there is one more piece to the experience of the disciples – it wasn’t just their training that equipped them for ministry. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Experience and training are very important but are insufficient without the empowerment and discernment of the Holy Spirit.

I have seldom been one who liked to read instructions. The instructions to my multi-function wrist-watch were too long and the pictures didn’t make sense. It was easier to begin pushing buttons until I found what each controlled. The watch likely has features I have not used but I know how to use the ones I need.

I could never follow the written instructions for setting the clock on the VCR but after hitting a few buttons was able to set the time just fine.  I recently had to change the head lamp in my car. For this, I read the instructions. I followed them to the letter (I thought) but could not remove the old light. I took it to a dealership. The service manager gave me further instructions which made no sense at all. I finally went back to the manual – carefully step-by-step following the instructions and it worked.

I do understand the value of following instructions. I suppose it is a form of arrogance to think I can do things without the help of a manufacturer.

Unfortunately, I carry that arrogance into my relationship with God. I wonder if I would have been as careful as Joshua in following the directions for taking Jericho. Such detail – march, blow trumpets once each day for 6 days and then on the 7th march around 7 times, blow trumpets and shout. Oh, and by the way, when the walls come down, don’t take any plunder.

Why not shout on the other 6 days – if it works on the 7th, why not do it earlier? Why not march 7 times the first day and shout and get done sooner?  No plunder? What is the value of winning if there is not something to take home – some trophy? Something to boast about?

As I look at the story – and I know of those who have tried to figure scientifically the impact on the walls of Jericho, of the people marching, the horns blowing and  the shouts – it is about God.

He could have knocked the walls down in a moment. This was an issue of obedience, faith, and honor.

Would they obey God – even in what seemed unusual? Did they trust Him that the walls would come down and did they trust Him that they didn’t need the plunder – that He would provide for them. Would they honor Him by not needing anything to boast in except in Him.

I know there are time when I want to boast in accomplishments – take the plunder – instead of giving all the glory to God. There are times when I think I need the accolades so that others know my value. There are times when I resist certain promptings of the Spirit – what might people think?

We all face Jericho’s in our lives – God has the battle plan. The only way to sure victory is to follow explicitly.

Last evening with gathered as a community of believers to remember the crucifixion. We set a cross in the middle of the auditorium with concentric circles of chairs around the cross – church in the round. Two tables sat on two sides of the cross – each with a basket of bread and a tray of cups containing grape juice.

We sang a couple of old familiar hymns of reflections on the significance of the cross. We read the accounts of the garden scene, the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. There was a meditation on the seriousness of sin and the price paid for the sins of man. We had a time of silence – to pray, confess, repent – to prepare to receive communion.

We gave thanks for what Christ did for us and then as each one felt ready, we moved toward the table – took a piece of bread and a small cup of juice. Some knelt in front of the cross as they ate the bread and drank the juice. Others knelt at their chairs; some sat and others stood around the cross.

It was a very solemn time. We closed singing about Jesus’ love for us. We then noted,

“It is Friday but Sunday’s coming!”

The mood immediately turned from being solemn and reflective to hopeful and confident. The lights that were dimmed for most of our time together were brought up and the community of believers began to visit with each other.

The cross – as solemn and tragic a figure as it is has a way of bringing people together. Someone once said, “the ground is level at the foot of the cross.” All barriers are gone – we all have the same needs and same status. With barriers gone we get a picture of the answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 – that His followers would be one.

People talked about looking forward to Easter. On many calendars, it is just another day but for Christ-followers, this is the day of hope – a promise of a future.

I have been reflecting a lot on the season – Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter. I have been thinking about the different perspectives leading up to the crucifixion of Christ.

The perspective of some of the Jewish leaders is found in their plotting for Jesus’ death. They saw this as an opportunity to be rid of this trouble-maker once and for all. He had challenged them, the law, and traditions. He had stirred up crowds that had begun to question conventional thinking. They thought if they could just kill Him, the problems would go away. Their perspective was one of hope – hope for the end of a rabble-rouser.

The Romans’ perspective was different. This was just another day – another misfit – another opportunity to make sport of a Jew. The day held no promise beyond the enjoyment they would find in torturing another human being.

The disciples, following Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday still held the hope of an overthrow of the Romans and freedom from tyranny. They knew there was some climax coming. There hope was for relief from oppression.

Jesus knew what was coming. He could see the cross looming ahead. He knew he was coming to the end of His time on earth. The Jewish religious leaders looked to be done with Him; the Romans to make sport of Him; and the disciples to fight for and with Him. These three groups look with anticipation of something good for them – teaching without challenge – sport – reigning with Jesus, the king.

Jesus carried the weight of the world on His shoulders. He was facing a showdown with the enemy. We look at Easter in the rear-view mirror and celebrate it’s victory but the road to Easter morning weighed heavy on the heart of the Star of day.

Jesus looked beyond the cross and:

for the joy set before Him endured the cross,  scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2b

Jesus was able to look beyond the cross and even beyond the resurrection to His place with the Father.

We are so tied to the here and now – the present – personal comfort – absence of trouble – that we have difficulty looking beyond to what God has in store for us.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” – I John 3:1-3

I confess that I most frequently view my relationship with Jesus as one in which He can change my circumstances – make life easier, more pleasant – what He really wants is to change me.

Just as the people who knew Jesus had different perspectives on the significance of that passion week – perspectives so different from Jesus, I often have a different perspective on what He wants to do in my life.

I am a frequent visitor of coffee shops. They are my preferred place for study. They provide an opportunity for uninterrupted work and once in awhile there is opportunity for meaningful dialogue with an employee or other frequent visitor.

There are several important ingredients to a good coffee shop:

Good coffee or tea & perhaps a pastry

Space to work

Free Internet access

Access to electrical outlets – to power the computer

There is one coffee shop that has a table somewhat isolated. It is a great place to study without interruption. It is “my space.” I have used it enough that several of the employees recognize it as my space. A few months ago the manager was working in “my space” and moved to another table when he saw me come in.

The problem is that not all customers recognize it as “my space.” This week I walked in and someone was in my space. I had to find another table with an electrical outlet nearby.

This morning I went to a different coffee shop. All of the tables with electrical outlets nearby were taken by other people with computers. How insensitive – using all of the spaces and not leaving one for me. In any coffee shop, I have come to assume that at least one of the tables with an outlet should be mine. I don’t understand why all these other people with computers have to use “my space” when I need it.

It is almost a sense of entitlement. Because I need space, electrical power and internet access, I should be able to walk into a coffee shop and plug in. Then I began to wonder how many times other computer users have walked in and felt that I was in their space.

I am thankful for those coffee shops that have free Internet access – who welcome people to work in their space. I want to remember that their generosity is an act of grace and not my right. I want to bless them for providing some space for me and for others who want or need to work while sipping a cup of coffee.

I am part of a cohort group discussing the implications of becoming more intentional in fulfilling the Great Commission – specifically, making disciples as Jesus did. How do we escape the time demands of running the machinery of the church so that we can have time to invest in individuals – teaching them to “obey” what Jesus commanded and preparing them to reproduce – to make disciples of others.

It was suggested that we need margins – spaces in our schedules that allow for people interruptions. The question posed: What if we set aside two hours per week and waited for God to provide the ministry opportunity? Other questions followed. What if we set aside two hours and no ministry opportunity comes – what do we do with the time? Suppose the two hours we set aside are not the same two hours God has for ministry?

The more I reflected, the more I thought there are two issues. The first is how to prioritize investing in making disciples. What can we cut from our current list of “to do’s” and replace it with a phone call or cup of coffee with a prospective disciple?

The second issue is margins – we need them - space in our schedules for reflection, prayer and rest. It is in the margins that we store resources to be used when we disciple others. It is in the margins that God is able to speak. It is in the idleness and inactivity of margins that we hear more clearly what is on God’s heart. It is in the margins that we finally put aside our driven-ness to complete our agendas, and listen for God’s agenda.

It is in the margins that we become disciples. We cannot lead others to receive from God what we have not been willing to take the time to receive from Him.

Another meeting.

Another discussion about “making disciples.” For the past fifteen years I have had the privilege/responsibility of helping churches become disciple-making churches. Unfortunately there has been more time spent discussing discipleship than has been spent on actually investing in the lives of others.

When I look at the NT, Jesus kept our instructions rather simple. Love God, Love others and lead others to do the same. The last part is about leading others to be disciples of Jesus.

There are scores of books, magazine articles and seminars dedicated to teaching discipleship. Most restate the need to make disciples and a few give principles and guidelines for making disciples. There are discipleship courses – books to help one person disciple another.

Before Jesus left he gave a simple command – go and make disciples – “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” He didn’t gave any other “how to manual.” Perhaps the keys are found in the Gospels.

Jesus invested in a few – taught them kingdom values and how to do ministry. He then told them to go and do the same.

Churches are recognizing that we have not done a good job of discipleship. We have often made converts but not disciples. The problem is not a lack of information or training. It is a matter of being willing to be involved in the lives of others – seeking God’s guidance for what we need to speak into their lives and for what we need to teach.

We must quit making discipleship so complicated and so academic. We just need to do it.